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Merits of building Mosques

Mosque is a place of worship, spontaneous and ceaseless praise, and a place where people gather to remember the Divine. Its significance not only limited to remembrance, but in the fact that the remembrace is done in a gathering. It also enable welfare of the community, gives an opportunity to care for others and to love one another. Mosque becomes a powerful and practical implementation of "love thy neighbors" commandment. In the time of the Prophet, mosque was the central place of social welfare, activism and care giving to those who were in need.

There is a very significant hadith or saying of Prophet Muhammad recorded in the book of Muslim, when the mosque at Medina Masjid-e-Nabwee was completed, the holy Prophet said: "I am the last Prophet and this Mosque of mine is the last Mosque." (Muslim)

The significance of this saying is great. It doesnt mean that all the mosques built after the Prophet's mosque is not accepted, but it means that all mosques built with the right intention is actually part or extension of the Prophet's mosque. As long as any mosque is built with Divine consciousness and solely for the worship of One God, for the welfare of God's servants and worshipers turn their faces to the Divine Presence in their prayers, they are all linked back to the last mosque built by the Holy Prophet. It infact is a testimony of the honor and merit of any mosque built afterwards. Every mosque thus connects with a golden thread of baraka to the honored mosque that Prophet himself build with his own blessed hands.

The Holy Prophet on the importance of mosques:1. O ye people, praise God. Anyone who builds a Mosque for the sake of God, the Exalted, God will in return builds an abode for him or her in the Station of Bliss (Paradise). (Bukhari, Muslim)2. To God, the most adored places are the mosques and the most undesirable places are market places.3. Mosques are the houses of God and those believers who enter therein are the guests of God.4. Those who visit the mosques in darkness (dark hour of nights) convey to them the good news that God shall bestow upon them from Himself perfect light on the day of judgment.5. For him (or her) who makes his ablutions at home and then walks to one of the houses of God, one single step of his towards the Mosque wipes out a sin and next step raises his status.6. Whenever anyone of you enters a mosque let him pray that "O God open up for me the doors of Thy Mercy"; and whenever anyone from among you leaves a mosque, let him pray: " O God, I seek from Thee Thy blessings".

Universality of mosques:The Holy Prophet also said: "The whole Earth has been made a mosque and pure for me" (Bukhari).

A mosque facilitates and promotes worship of One God and therefore fosters a personal bond of love and devotion between man and his God. A mosque is essentially a first step towards fostering unity and brotherhood amongst people and consequently, a powerful force in our endeavors to unite mankind.

The original arabic word, Masjid meaning any place where you do 'sajda' (prostration) before God Almighty. In Sajda or prostration the forehead touching the ground as practiced in Salat or prayer. Prostration to the Most High can be found in all faith traditions in the world, from Judaism, Christianity or even in Hindu or Buddhism. (see: prostration and submission to God, symbology and meaning)

Perpetual blessings:Prophet Muhammad said: When a person leave his earthly body, all his or her actions terminate but three:1. Knowledge through which people benefit,2. Sadaqa Jaariyya (recurring charity), and3. Pious child who makes dua or supplication for the parents.

And building of Mosque falls into the Sadaqa Jaariyya or recurring / continuous charity because as long as people come for Divine Remembrance and worship, the merits and blessings are sent to the ones who were behind building the mosque.